DFA issues statement on Ukraine invasion: 'PH expresses explicit condemnation'

The Philippines expressed explicit condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and voted to pursue the United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an emergency session on the situation, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

"The Philippines votes YES to the UNGA resolution and expresses explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine. No one can trust news reports of casualties on either side but 14,000 have been killed since 2014," the DFA's statement released on Feb. 28 read.

The United Nations' 15-member Security Council approved the emergency session, with 11 countries voting in favor. Russia voted against the resolution while China, India, and the United Arab Emirates abstained.

The urgent meeting comes after Russia vetoed a US-sponsored resolution that would have "deplored in the strongest terms the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine." 

"We call for massive assistance commensurate with the growing humanitarian crisis and echo the UN Secretary General’s appeal for respect of humanitarian principles to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures in Ukraine," the DFA said.

"We especially condemn the use of separatism and secession as a weapon of diplomacy for inviting and inflicting terrible cruelties and indiscriminate killings far in excess of that of any other kind of conflict," it added.

The DFA also urged to resort to the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, which calls for peaceful means to settle conflicts.

Other countries have also condemned Russia's military attacks, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Canada.